The Regal apartments, 651 S Wells St, South Loop

The Regal was built, circa 1908, as a brick and timber warehouse and converted to loft apartments in 1987. Philadelphia-based Historic Landmarks for Living was the developer of the loft conversion.

The apartments

The Regal offers 8 different floor plans that it bills as 1-, 2- and 3-bedrooms. The 2-bedrooms can usefully be considered as 1-bedroom plus den units with two baths, and the 3-bedrooms as 2-bedroom plus den apartments with 2 1/2 baths. The second and third “bedrooms” in the 2- and 3-bedroom units are raised lofted areas that are not fully enclosed for privacy.

Floor plans and a near real-time availability check can be accessed online.

The apartments have a classic loft aesthetic with high ceilings, large windows, hardwood floors in living areas, exposed ductwork, brick walls and timber ceilings. Units have good closet space.

Open-plan all-electric kitchens have been remodeled since the original conversion and feature cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and black appliances with built-in microwaves. All of the lofts have in-unit washer / dryers.

The units do not have private outdoor space.

Views. West-facing units at The Regal have decent views of the Willis Tower and the western part of the Loop.

Amenities, services, policies

The Regal’s amenities package is limited to a bicycle room. There are plans for addition of a fitness center, business center and community room.

The Regal has on-site management. The building accepts pets, subject to limits. Parking is off-site.

The location

The Regal is one of the closer-to-the-Loop buildings in the South Loop but has one of the South Loop’s least advantageous locations for proximity to shopping, dining, parks and cultural attractions.

The Regal does have good proximity to the Willis Tower, the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Board of Trade and other financial trading institutions in the Loop.

WalkScore gives the location a “Walker’s Paradise” rating of 94 and a “Rider’s Paradise” transit score of 100. The WalkScore ratings for the building are unreliable and based on information and distance estimates that are just wrong. The Regal does not have walkability and access to transit even remotely comparable to other properties with the same scores.

The most convenient retail cluster for The Regal residents will be the State Street shops, anchored by Macy’s.

Dining, nightlife.
You’ll have to walk a few blocks from The Regal to gain access to dining and nightlife options.

Cactus Bar & Grill, two-and-a-half blocks north of The Regal, is a lively scene when the weather is warm. O’Neil’s on Wells, across the street from Cactus, draws a drinking crowd. Tutto Italiano, a block-and-a-half north of The Regal, is a local favorite for moderately-priced Italian fare.

Once you reach Van Buren St you can head in any direction and find dozens of fast food options and bars and restaurants that cater primarily to Loop workers.

Parks, recreation. The Regal has poor access to public parks and outdoor recreational opportunities.

There’s a large stretch of vacant land along the river across Wells St from The Regal, and the southern part of it has become popular with dog owners.